What’s Your Quarantine Story?

I’m pretty sure everyone has a story to tell during this extended community quarantine. Sad stories which are better kept untold, and good stories which are worth sharing to the whole world.

Let me share to you my sad story first. Although it would have been better kept untold, a story and its lessons are only made useful if shared, as the saying goes.

Kuya Marty, our eldest, was in south sometime last March for work. He slept in the same room with an elderly officemate who was suffering from a severe cough back then. Two days later, my brother had flu-like symptoms. He, together with his wife, went to the hospital and waited for almost nine hours to have him tested for COVID-19. 10 days later, he tested positive. By then, he was having difficulty in breathing and had lost his sense of taste and smell. What makes this story more alarming is that my brother is a cancer-survivor. Having to deal with another ordeal of that magnitude was something so hard to take especially for him and his wife. He can’t help himself but remark, “kala ko tapos na ang paghihirap namin, hindi pa pala.” It broke everyone’s heart.

It was mandatory then that his wife be tested as well. Being just a PUI, the hospital where my brother is to be confined won’t allow her confinement. They recommended that she undergo several tests, including COVID-19 test, but sent her home thereafter. When her x-ray result was out, she was found to be suffering from pneumonia. This made my ill brother, who was kilometers away from her, more uneasy and preoccupied.

But we were there for him every recovering day, giving all kinds of support he needed. And it paid off. His wife’s result turned out to be negative and the findings of pneumonia were ruled out. And after more than a month of confinement and three positive results, my brother was discharged from the hospital after finally testing negative. They fought off cancer before and there was no reason why they won’t triumph against COVID-19. With the way they keep on dealing major life challenges but kept on thumping them, we called them the Warrior Couple.

As my brother was on his way to full recovery, I fervently prayed each night that no one from our family would be infected by the virus again. However, just last week, my physician brother, Bolet, who had an exposure from a COVID-19 positive patient, tested positive as well. But unlike Kuya Marty, Bolet was asymptomatic. Aside from having a dry throat, he was as strong as a bull and would regularly clown around with us via Facebook Messenger. We were saddened by Bolet’s situation but know that God is always with our family. We believe that He does not give challenges to someone whom He knows cannot overcome them. 

So much for my sad stories.

Now there’s no better way to end a narration than ending it with a good story. And my good story during this quarantine is simply about family.

My brother, Popop, the youngest of six, broke the news to the family, quarantine-style, that he has passed all the final requirements and is set to graduate next month. My father, who couldn’t be more proud of his and our mother’s achievements (having reared six successful children – three lawyers, a physician, a registered medical technologist, and now an occupational therapy graduate) shared to us a story that we would cherish for the rest of our lives.

My father goes on to tell:

“Let me share a story of how difficult life was for me and your mom when Marty, (maybe 4 yrs old), and Chinkoy, (1 yr old), were young. One Saturday we went to Las Pinas to collect a P250 loan from an officemate who promised to pay me that Saturday and brought Marty and Chinkoy with us. We only had enough money for our fare to Las Pinas and back to Baclaran. I trusted my friend would pay me and so I thought I needed no plan B that time. Then came the unexpected – my officemate did not pay and no matter how I explained my situation, he did not give a cent. So home we went disappointed, sad and confused. When we got to Baclaran we only had about P1.50 which is not enough for our fare to Nichols. Not having any other option we walked home and braved the scorching heat. It was three in the afternoon. I carried Marty and your mama Chinkoy. We pitied ourselves no end and were almost in tears. But we had Marty and Chinkoy consoling us. We joked and teased with them all throughout the ordeal and their faint laughs cheered us up.

That moment when we four were there on the street side walking and with almost without money stands out eloquently as a reminder of how difficult life was for us back then and how we painstakingly coped up with it. Marty and Chinkoy were thin and sickly as did your mom. I could not even pay on time the P400 monthly rental of our apartment then. But ever the dreamer, I did not stand idly by and my difficulties made me dream big. I got emboldened to finish law and despite the bumpy road ahead I had to go through as a working student and a father of 3 (Jr came by before I graduated, and that Jr is me), I braved them all and got through. As I improved on my career, I began to nurture lofty plans for you my children.

I’ve lived a life of my dreams. I had lofty dreams and I've worked real hard for them. And at every step I sought God's guidance and love. And now with Popop's graduation, the realization of my dreams is being laid completely out.

Ours is a perfect poster family for humble beginnings, lofty hopes, hard work and success. But I'm looking at all of these with utmost humility. I say now and forever, everything that I have or have achieved, they were all God's gift for me and your mama. Let’s thank Him profusely although I know we can't thank Him enough!”

This story left us all in tears but extremely grateful to our parents and to God. It taught us what family should really be. This sounds cliché but it is worth stressing over and over again – “life would be so much better if it is centered on family. You can’t ever go wrong with family, which will always be the very definition of genuine and unconditional love.”

So what’s my quarantine story? It’s all about family. And family will always be the story of my life, always have, always will.

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Special thanks to the hospital that took care of Kuya Marty and the hospital that is taking care of Bolet. Mad respect as well to all the doctors and health workers behind Kuya Marty's recovery and Bolet's current confinement. This includes our doctor friends, batchmates and relatives who helped our family eased our situation. May God's blessings come to you and your family a thousand fold.